Travel challenge ahead for Lions
Lions Physical Performance Manager Brett Burton has said that recovery management will be crucial in the coming weeks.
Speaking exclusively to LionsTV, Burton said that the upcoming match in Perth would mean an increased focus on managing player workloads.
“We’re going over to Perth this week, so recovery is ultra-important,” Burton said.
“It’s a six-hour flight; one of the longest flights in the country. So we’ll lighten off this week and freshen [the players] up.”
Burton and the Club’s physical performance team have the responsibility of ensuring players’ physical well-being while on the team flight.
This includes ensuring the players are hydrated, eating at proper times across the time zone change, and maintaining movement on the flight to sustain blood flow and muscle exercise.
On top of the cross-country trip to Perth, the Lions will then be facing Richmond at the Gabba just six days later.
Burton said that it was probably the team’s biggest challenge from a travel perspective.
“Given that we’re making the longest flight in the country and then back again on a six-day turnaround, it’s obviously going to be a challenge,” Burton said.
“But these guys are professionals and we put the recovery mechanisms in place.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to make sure that they get back in good shape and prepared for the game against Richmond.”